Apparatus for manufacturing toothed elements



Jan. 29, 1946. E. F. ABER 2,393,727

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TOOTHD ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 Shee's-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 29, 1946. E. F. ABER 2,393,727

APPARATUS Fon MANUFACTURING Toom-IED ELEMENTS v Filed Feb. 2o, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 /04 a ez 3/ ATTORNEY@ E F. ABER Jan. 29, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TOOTHED ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 Sh'eets-Sheet 3 BY v E` F. ABER Jan. 29, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGrl TOOTHED ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 SheetrsfSheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1946 ABPARATUS Foa MANUFAoTUnmG 'IQQTHED ELEMENTS.

. ,EarnestfR Aber, Racine, Wis.

' ADplicationjFebinary` 20, 1942, Serial No. :131,661

(CLM-.14)

.19 Claims.

Ijliisinvention relates to improvements in .apparatus for manufacturing toothed elements, and is particularly adaptedfor thev manufacture, of circular cutters orvge'ars having curved'te'eth.

In the manufacture of y circular cutters and gears, and more particularly when the teeth ex.- tend inian are transversely ofthe periphery of the. blank, theoperation requires precise adjustments in the position of the, rotary cutterwith respect to the blank beingoperatedMDon, and precise indexing of the blank following the cutting of each tooth. In addition, whencutting a curvedtooth it isdesirable that the rotarycutter be. supported at an angleV away from the horizontal(when the axis ofthe cutter is generally horizontal and when the cutter is being fed in a generally horizontal direction into .the periphery of a blank which is supportedon another horizontal axis aty rightangles to the axis of the cutter). This tipping of the cutteris sometimesnecessary in the cutting of certain teeth in order to obtain a desired lpressure angle for theuteethbeing cut in the blank.

The apparatus in general includes means .for supporting and .rotating a cutter of the hollow mill type about ya horizontal axis while simultaneously feeding the rotating cutter into theperiphery of a circularblank,A means for supporting the *circular blank on a horizontal axis disposed at right angles, to thelaxis ofthe rotatingcutter, means forfautomatically indexing the blankfafter each tooth has been cut! and means for positively locking theblank in a particularindexedposition. during actual cutting.

`It 4is ageneral lobject of lthisinvenion to providey fully automatic mechanism for performing the above `functions including a correlated Idrive for the various parts of the machine, and actuatingmembers which are. automatically acted upon to causetimed operation of .each part of the machine at a .particularvtime during the .cycle of operation. .A more specic objectiefthe invention .is to provide in. apparatus of the Aclass described, including a rotary indexing disk `associated with the blank and including a-locking pin engageable with saidv indexing disk to hold the same in a predetermined position during cutting of the blank, a cyclical. operation including means operable in response to movement of the cutter awayfrom the blank after a tooth has been cut for ,with-v drawing said locking pin, meansfor subsequently rotatably indexing the blank while the locking Apin is withdrawn, meansfor re-engaging said locking pin with the indexing disk after indexing, and means for again feeding the rotary.v cutter into the work to cut an additional: tooth therein while the workis held inv xed indexedposition.

A furtherobject of the invention is tol provide in a devceof the class described, vmeans whereby tooth,or a .forty-threetooth rgear or cutte the Support .for the ,rotary @litter may loo` adiuotod vertically with respect. to the Fwork, 'longitudinally with respect thereto, and angularly-wherebythe .eXaCtho'siton of theA rotary 'ciltterbest slltodffor ooar'ciouiarpiece tewerk may be. obtained:

.further 7object of the invention is to provide apparatuses above described wherein; the psif tionl of the support for the o rk `maybe accurately varied either qverticallyorlaterally. 1A further morespecic object of the invention is Lto provide apoaraltuswhoein the actuating corinectiii'sbtiien the 4hitter' feed l,t'alloj and. the .indexing xtureare so' arranged andoonotruotod as tolperrnit'feed movement'of the :tablewithout casig undesired ,movement of. .said actuating connections andas 'to permit krelatii'fe adjustment .Q11 tillfl'g' beWfQrl ,the ffeifd. ftbl' and the "WQl/'k Support; t t .A further. object of ,the `invention is .to provide japoarots. .above "described having. an ingerito diSli .s0 LoonSt-lloted @d @Operable ,With the liefst ortho' apparatus as to permit cutting of o 'Sole'oo'd number; o f teeth in the blank; :s'uch `for.'.exarriple as cutting a twenty-eight tooth, a nanty yen A further objectofthe inventionisto provide apparatus for. mahufootuogftoothodl. ol'em'nis wherein teeth, onopoositesioes of a oiioularbho'k may. be' out Simultaneously tothorobr expedite pompleto. t.

Other objects of theinvention are `.to provide vapparatus which can be economically drivenjby aA small size electric inotorj'to' provide' apparatus which 'when l operating requires no supervision until the workon a particular blank is completed;

and to provide apparatus which is capable of utierror in theL setting ofthe, machine'.

` With ,theabofve'and othermobjects .in view, the

invention' consists or the.ilrlnnr'oved apparatus for manufacturing tooth elements, and all itsparts and ACorillo,inatiofns' ,asset `forthin v.the claims', .and all,equivalents'thereof. f Y' `1n ftheA accompanying drawings illustrating on oornpleteV embodiment "ofthe ,proferred'rorm'bf .the invention,` in which thesahe' referencey numeralsl 'designate l the same parts in Val1 n 'pf the news t.

lfig.j lisa perspective view. of the `inriproved apparatus, lodkingfprincipally .at one`sid thereof, only a yfragment"0f .the second cutter table lbeing s hlown;

t* lig`- 2 .is a perspectiveview ofthe. apparatus lookinglprnoinally. at tnfopoositefside' thereof, part being broken away;l Fig.A 3`is. an enlarged vertical esectional, yview taken ,approximately .on| the 1ine3V-3 of Eig; 1; l Fig.. iisv an ,edge Aview of, the .indexinggoami Eig. is a vertoal-seotiorial View ori'an ,enlarged scale taken on the line --5 of Fig. 2, part being broken away;

Fig.V 6 is a top view of the cam drum and associatedjparts. while said parts' are iin the posi-A tion of Fig.v1, parts being broken away;Y l Y Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view showing the Y cam drumin the same position as in Fig. 6 and f with the ori une' leg-'m to each receive a pivot pin 33. The blocks 3| are accommodated in recesses 34 in the bottom of the bed plate communicating with the end thereof, and said recesseshave center extensions of e sufficient vheight tov freely accommodate the `block extensions 32 and the portions of the pivot r pins .33 resting `on said'block extensions (see Fig. 5) v.The inner endY of each pivotpin is journalled in a bearing opening. 35 of the bed plate, and

the Youter end of Veach pivot pin isvjournalled in a pivot opening 36 of each side plate 26'. In addition, the portion ofgeach pivot pin 33'which'rests on the blockV 3| is rigidly secured to said block 11'is-an enlarged fragmentary sectional spective showing the cam drum and actuating Y connections with the indexing fixture,'the'feed table beingv inV a withdrawn'position, with rthe cutter out of engagement .with the vwork andthe Y indexing disk being locked;

Fig. 13 is a side view ofthe cam drum .showing Vthe position of the parts after the cam drum has rotated approximately 'three-quarters of a revolution from'the position of Fig. 12. 'With the cam'drum in the positionv of Fig. 13 the cutter is now fully into the workand all other actuating connections are inthe same position of Fig.'12; Y Fig. 14 is a View similar to Figll2, showing. the

third stage in the cycle of operation. Here thek quick return cam has engaged the bed Yplate pin to'V cause withdrawal of the feed table to pull the cutterout ofvr the work. i At ythe same time the indexrelease block on the 'cam drum has caused movement of the actuating link for the indexing disk locking pin toV disengage the latter from the indexing disk; o. f 3

Fig, 15. is av view similar tov Fig. 14,- showing the fourth stage in the cycle of operation. Here the indexing cam has caused vrotary' indexing movement of theY indexingdisk onev notch,zfand the index locking cam on the cam'dr'umV is about tofcause return of the indexing disk lockingpin into locking position; and Y Fig. 16 is a View looking at a face of ay blank showing-the rotary. cutters in proper Vadjusted position cutting teeth in opposite sides-'of 'they blank. f Y. l j.

"The supporting frame and frame.Y adjustments Referring more particularly'to-the drawings, there is 'a base 2G Vhaving upstanding side walls 2|,v the upper edges of which are anged outwardly as at 22. Supported-on said flanges. is a bed 23 having a dovetail. recess 24 inits upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof. ShimsV 25 are interposed between the bed and the .flanges 22, andy by s electing shims of a desired thickness the elevation of the bed may be varied.

' Extending downwardly from` the 'side Yedges of the bed and. overlapping the side walls 2| of the base are` side plates 26. These plates have their inner sides nctchedout toprovide shoulders 21 which overlap and rest on the shims 25.

against turning movementrby a bolt 31. The weight of the machine parts above the' blocks 3| will normally hold` thesamef. in a nai-,position ony the shims 25, butV the side` plates ZG'and bed l23 can pivot on the pivotY pins 33 when'the 'opposite Vend of the bed plate Aistiltedupwardly in a manner to be hereinafter describedgandwhen of course, the bolts 29 shown in' Fig, A5 are loosened. The construction of Vthese pivots .is Valso suchthat if the bed plate is adjusted iongitudinauy the block 3|' supportingthe pivot'pinscan slide longitudinally along the shims 25. Q I

For the purpose'of varying the' normalelevation'of the bed plate, a crank 38(s'eekFig. .2)V is provided, which operates to rotate' a'shaft139. This shaft .carries a worm'43 (see Fig.` 5) which cooperates Ywith a worm Vwheel 4|( When the worm wheel is rotated in response 'to operation of the crank 38, a jack screwV 42 maybemoved upwardly to press against the bottorn'ofa Dan 43.' The pan in .turn presses against the bottom l of the bed plate to raise @the latter upwardly,

providing the set screws 29 are loosened.. WhenY raised upwardly thicker shims may bersubstit'uted for the shims 25 to support the bed plate at a higher elevation.. 'Y Brackets 44 (seeFig. 5), extending downwardly from the bottom ofthe bed plate,- are apertured to receive the trunnions 45 of a nut 46, and a longitudinalv screw 4"| isthreaded in'saidnut. The screw vtl'has anunthreaded portion 48Y projecting through the' outer endof the machine and .equipped with a crank 49 (see. Fig. 2); B'y rov'or to any tilted position of said bedplate. `In

addition, where there is a major change in the elevation of the bed plateV 23 through'operation of the vertical screw 42, thebolts 50' adjacent the crank 49 (see Fig. 2) may be loosened. These bolts extend through'vertical slotsin av plate 5|. The latter plateoverlaps a vertical slot 52 in the base structure. 'Ifhuswhen the jbolt's 5i) are loosened the crank shaft'jlliV and plate 5|.'may

be moved up' or Vdown with respect to the Yslot fully shown` inFigl and tobe hereinafterdescribed.

A feed table 53, having its bottom ofdovetail shape to cooperate. 'with the` dovetailslot 24.0f the bed 23, is supported on'the bed plate as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and saidV feed table 53.has spaced upright extensions 54. and 55 the Yupper ends of which supportatcp 56; i

The structure just described ls preferably dupli-l asserita? vcated on' the othersidefof thefapparatus/.asrindicated in.Fig..1:.which shows.a fragment/of .a

i .Otherwise the'structure. onzthe otherv sideuof .the

machine fis .thesameand it ismeedless tosduplicate the showings-mathe:drawings: erin .thezdescription. i

Between the: feed f. tables f53ga'nd 51 .(seei Fig. 1)'. isza transverselyexteliding bed plate y58,` .havin'grkeyways 59;.therein. .=A-base -block 60 for supporting .the vindexing 1 iixture :rand J the work: is positionedcnithetransverse bed 58. The. base 00. hasla keyway j Yin its lower. 'side witha key 'S2 therein'rvvhiclfi/alsol cooperates with thekey- Wayf59 in'the bed. ;.Thus';.the. base'. 60 maybe moved longitudinallysof :thebed 58-and transversely of the rest of. the apparatus.

A lplate B3 is yvertically adjustablysecur'ed by bolts 61|' to an '.endfof' the bed? 58, .andi said V.bolts cooperate with verticalslotsiinthenplate 83. An. adjustment sci'evw-lihas onewend'. threaded into "thebase 50' for theworkssupportand indexing fixture and has :its outer'endrunthreadeid and extending rotatably through lthe 'platef83 and formedk with a squared outer.;endn61'for the reception of a crank. Ai dial `Gimay be associated Withthe nprojectingunthreaded .end of the screw. By rotating the. screw '66a preciseqadjustment of the: 'basef 88 4or'i'the bed.58"may^be obtained. In addition; if itisdesired'toelevate thezbasef-EB, the boltsz-Sdz-:may be-.loosened,I thebase Sil-,may be raised'. above thebed 58,1 and 1 a shim ofy desired thickness may be inserted. The shimpmayfbc provided'fwith keyways forl cooperation with the keyways59of the bed'and 6| of they-base. :The base 80 is pro-vided with spaced upright extensions 09 and 10v through the upper. ends ofwhich a shaft 1| is journalled. f

In order to conveniently effectl a desired amount of-tiltingof the'bed23and sdeplates* 26 on the pivot pins 33. there is a shaft'- 1'2-journalled transversely through the side plates as shownrinFigs. 1f and'2; and more particularly in Fig. 1. .This shafthasthree'eccentrics 13 keyed thereon,r and theseeccentrics rotate in circularopenings 14 of blocks 15. When the. crank 18 is turnedtobring the wide portions of the eccentric 13 toward the bottom,.then the-side 'plates 2'8" and-bed 23-Wil1 tilt about the pivot pins 33. i Such tiltingis-sometimes desirable in order tov cause tipping of the rotary cutter with respect 4to the work. A dial 11 The drive The apparatus is driven'by .a relatively small electric motor? 18v mounted on` theV cover.' 56 of thel feed table. Through suitablev gearingwithin agear box 19' the'motor drivesashaft 80 having a pinion 8| fixed on its outer vendl and having a bevel gear 82`fixed on its inner end. i The pinion' 8| cooperates to`drive a Ytrain of4 gears 83,' 84,'iand" 85. VThe gear 85'is rigidly rmounted on one end of a cutter shaft' 86, and said cutter shaft is journalled in'bearings formed' in the uprights' 54 and 55. The cutter'shaft- 86 is adapted --to carry a rotary cutter 81 on its'inner end,

and said cutter may be of` any desired type, suchA "posed .bevelrgeary89,` and ssaidrbevekgearin; turn .drives-a chain offgearslsmi 9 I aand 92. :,Gear 02 issrigidly mounted on theupperaend' by a vertical shaft 93, and the-A shaft 93 carries .az rigidly mounted wormV 94 (seeFig. 2), vwhichdrives .a worm-wheel$|5 mounted rigidly on. a shaftfS for the cam.drum, 91.

vThe automatic table feed *The .camrv'drume 91 is rigidly .mounted fonts ishaft..and is..provided with atablefeed cam 08 thereon .(seeFigs. 6 and?) .which extendsapproximately .three-quarters .of the way :around the drum. .The .cam-98 -is cooperable .With abed plate 'piniv 99,:.fa'sishown in. Figi 7. '.:This .pin is rig idly connected to .the vbed .plate 23 .andeXtends upwardlyithroughvian elongated opening |00; in the table bottom 53. .As the drum 91 `rotates in the direction indicated byrthe arrow in Fig. "l, the gradually; increasingv width ,of the feed cam 98 will causepushing; of .the .drum and feedtable toward the right, zreferringto.` Fig. 7. At :..the

wide end of the feedrcams. there. isagdistancel where the feedcamis of substantially the. same width, creating .a dwell .after1the feed tablevis fed' fully inwardly. `Movement ;ofA the feed .table as just described of course causes movement of the rotaryxcutter 81xori88ztoV a position fully into the work, or as.` shown in Fig.. 16. While the rotarycutternis' being fed into :then work it is. of course vrotating so that a tooth zis being. cutias it progresses inwardly.

vThecam-drum is .also equipped Vwith `a quick returnl ycamp|0| which; is.` best illustratedin Fig. 13. When the wideendof thev feedy cam passes the bed plate pirr 98, then shortly thereafter. the pin is engaged by the angular-face |02 of the quickreturn cam tocause movement of the drum and-feed table 'tof thei left, referring to .-Fig. 13, and withdrawalfof the cutterfrom the work. This feed and return imovement; ofiA the ltablevfis of course permitted by the sliding dovetail mounting'of thetablebottom-53 inthe dovetail-recess 24of the. bedplate.

."The indexing mechanism The shaft 1| is adapted to support on one end a blank |03 to-be operated fupon. This" blank may beremovably securedto the shaft? in any desired manner so that-When 4the shaft '1| lis rotated the blank will 'also be rotated. On the opposite end of the 'shaft 1| is an indexingdisk |04. "Thisfindexing 'diskA hasoneV or more sets of indexing holes therein. "In thepr'eferred em'- bodiment of the invention' there is an inner vset |05 which preferably comprises 28 holes for indexing a twentyeight-tooth gear or cutter; an intermediate set |06 which preferably'comprises thirty-seven holes forindexing a thirty-seven tooth gearor cutter; and an outer =set `|01 preferably comprising forty-three holesv` for indexing a forty-threetooth4 gearor cutter. '-Pins' |08 are removably insertable rfrom the innerfside ofthe indexing disk into the setrof holes being utilized. In Fig." 8 these pins are shown as inserted in the outer set of holesV |01. `These pins'extend only part'way through the 'thickness ofthe indexing disk. .The projecting 4ends ofthe pins are formed on one side with arounded taper-|09, as shown in Fig. 11.

- 'Referring now to Fig.3, the cam'drum shaft 98 has an indexing cam I0 keyed thereto. This cam hasA a tapered` surface rwhich'rnerges into a'vportion |i|2 ofrifull thickness, and 'fthe portion |`.|2v` constitutes a-dwellrin"v theecyclepf 4 Y operation.. The camis cooperable with a roller ||3 extending from the lower side of alever ||4.

The lever has one end pivoted as at' ||5 and has a portion on the opposite side of the rollerguided ina slot ||6 of a guiding block ||1.- The free end'cf the'lever has a ball and socket connection ||8 with an actuating link '||9. vThis link comprises two overlapping sections which have cooperating serrated surfaces' held in a desired overlapping position'by a bolt |20 .which is engageable'with any one Vof aplurality of selected aperturesV (see Fig. 1).. The effective length of the link |9'may therefore' be varied. Thelother end of the link hasa universal'connection |2| (see Fig. 8),"with the outer end of the lever |22, and said lever |22v has its inner end connected to axrock shaft |23,`which shaft 'is mounted for oscillating movement inthe uprights Eiland-16 of the indexing fixture.AY

connected Yto the outer end of said lever,r in

either one of the openings 'or` |26, Ais an in-VK dexing -dog |21. The angular position of 'the' dog |21 may be varied by manipulation of a set screw |28, as shown in Fig. 9. The 'outer end of Ythe dog has'a transversely extendingY tubular portion |29 within which a latch member |30 'Y (see Fig. 11) is slidabiy mounted against the tension'of a spring |3| .whichnormally urges the latch outwardly.V The latch has one side concavelyA tapered, as at |32, to slip'over the Ycorresponding Vtaper |09 of the pins |08 when the screw, to allow a slight rotary movement of the latch during operation.V f

It is obvious that when the cam drum shaft 96 is rotating in the direction of thearrow ,of Fig'. 3, that as the roller ||3 ridesupvr the 1inclined surface the free outer end ofV the lever ||4 will be swung toward .the indexing fixture, moving the actuating link H9, causing rocking o f the rock shaft v|23 and movement of the lever |24 to push theY indexing dog |21. This will cause rotatable indexing movement of the indexing disk |04 and blank |03 a distance equal to the distance between ,two of the pins |08. After the high portion ||2 of the cam l0 leaves the roller, then the v.weight of the'lever arm |24 aided by a return spring |24' will cause movement of the lever |24 to the left, referring to Fig. 9, and the latch |30 will'slip over one of the .pins Vand re-engage the other side thereof`V ready Vfor the next indexing stroke. L

Referring to Fig. 8, 4there is mounted on the base 60 a block |36 having a dovetailrecess |31 in its upper surface. An upright holder |38 has its bottom dovetailed, as at |39, to cooperate lf'or sliding movement in the dovetailV recessv |31l of the block |36. A rod |40 has its outer Yend extending through the bottom of the holderV |138, and rigidly connected thereto. The 'rod |40 is slidable in vbores |4| Vand |42 of the upright members 69 and 10. Thus longitudinal movement of the rod |40 causes movement. of the holder |38 toward or away from the indexing disk |04. l

`An adjustment block |43, positioned on one side of the holder |38, has a stem portion |44v slidable in a slot |45 of the holder |38. A bolt;`

Another lever |24 is Y carried on the rock shaft |23, and adjustably |46 extending through the stem |44 of.' the block andr through a plate i|41 on the opposite side of the plate |41. Thus the position of the block |43 may be varied in a vertical direction to co-V operate with any one of the sets |05, |66, or |01 of indexing holes in the indexingY disk. .Y Y

An index locking pin |49 Vextends slidably through the' block |43 and has itsV outerV end slidable in an aperture of ai bracket |50. Acotter pin |5| engaging awasher |52-at one end of a coil spring |53 causes any outward sliding movement ofthe locking pin to be against the tension of said spring |53. Thisy spring is of relatively great strength and is only useful toV permit yielding movement if the inner end of the locking pin should fail to enter one of the holes -of the indexing disk 'through some error in adjustment. Thus the spring is a safety factor to prevent breakage of parts.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and7, there is a rod |54 extending longitudinally of the cutter table with its ends slidable in Vopenings .|55 and |56 of the cutting table uprights54' andl 55. A block |51 is rigidly and non-slidably connected to an intermediate portion` of theirod |54,andV a pin |58 projects inwardly from one end of the block |51. The other end of the block is connected by a ball and socket fitting |59 with an actuat- Y ing link |60. This link is formed of a plurality yof sections which are adjustably connected at a bell crank lever |63. The bell crank lever is piv- Y oted on a block |64 and has its other arm 'pivotally connected as at |65-V (see Fig. 10) withV a transverse slide |66in a block |61. Ther block |61 is rigidly and non-slidably connected tothe rod |40, which causes inward Vand outward movement of the index locking pin Vholder |38.

Referring again'to Fig. 6, as the cam` drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow/the index locking cam |68 thereon engages the pin |58 to move the block |51 and shaft |54-toward the right, referring to Fig; 6.- This causes similar movement of the actuating link |60, swing-J ing movement of the bell crank |63, movement of the rod |40 to the left and tothe position of Fig. 10, movement of the holder |38 toward the indexing disk |04 and entrance of the locking pin |49 into one of the holes |91 of the indexing disk, as n time thismovement takes place, however, an

index release member |69 will be in a position adjacent the pin |58, asshown in Fig. 121. Thus as the cutter table and. cam drum move toward theleft, as shown in Fig.A 14,'the index release block will carry the pin |58 `withrit to cause movement of the actuating link |60, swinging of the bell` crank |63 in a directionV to push the index locking pin holder |38 to Ythe right, ,referring vto Fig.

8, to cause withdrawal of the index locking pinV |09-from the holelwith whichV it was-engagedfin the indexing disk. ThisVv release always takes placebefore'the-indexing dog-'operates to'fadvance the`l indexing'l disk one`v notch.

Dual.` cutting. arrangementt.`

While the apparatus may comprise' only the mechanism shown inFig. 2Jfori cutting one tooth at as-time, nevertheless lby duplicating theA struc-- ture on the opposite side, as indicatedb'y the -secl0 ond cutter table 51 of Fig. 1, which cutter table supports aV cutter shaft lin-having a cutter I'li mounted on the end thereof; then itis-'possible,= due to the particular arrangement of the device,` to'cut teeth on opposite sides of the blanksimul- 15 taneously as indicated in Fig. 16,- *wherein' a dif-- ferentl type of cutter 88 and |12 is shown. Wherel ardualmachineisemployed, the cutter shaft 'will berotated by'mechanismidentical' to that heretofore described'on the iirst'side'of the machine, 20 and a'cam drum like the cam drum 9i' willfbe rotated-in the same manneras the method of'rotatingV camY drum 91; Said cam drumv will be equipped with a feed cam identical to the feed cam 98 and with a quick return cam identical to 25 thecam IUI. The cams |68 and |69 may, however, be omitted; andthe indexing camy H9 may` also beomitted, together with associated parts, because it is suiiicient to have the indexing controlled from oneside of the machine. Thedrive 30 for the table 5Tand cutter shaftv |19 must be timed 'to' coincide perfectly with the' movements on the other side of the machine.

Operation 35' Inoperation ablank lllof desired-.size is rigidly connected to theshaft 'H in anydesired manner, as shown in Fig. 2. Next a `selected type and size ofhollow mill ,cutter is inserted onthe cutter shafts 86.ancl VH1.` It is then necessary to lower. the table from. the position shown in Fig. 2` to bringthecutter 88,.to a desired position of elevation with respect to the blank, and a proper iinalV position is shown in Fig. 16. This lowering is accomplished by operation of the jack, 42` and by 45 a change in the` thickness of the shims 25, or a. desiredposition may be obtained by elevating the worksupporting base 60 through insertion of ashim of "desired thickness therebeneath, as heretofore described. The table 51. for. the opposite 60 cutter |11 or |12 must then be raised through operationof the jack 42. on the other side of theapparatus and4 throughuse of shims of: desired thickness correspondingto the shims .25er Fig. 5. Acorrect final position for the cutter |12 is illus- 55 trated in Fig. 16. The tables, however,are of course. ina Withdrawn position so that the cut.- ter'sareout of engagement with the .work.

In order tov adjust` the lateral position. ofthe` Work |03. withrespect `to the cutters, the` screw4 60 66 may be rotatedtoobtain a correct position..

In additionat thetime of` settingun. the work the; starting position of the tables 5,3., and. V5.7` shouldbe adjusted longitudinally by an opera-rv tionoffthecrank 49 onone side .ofthe machine 65 andthe correspondingcrank on'the opposite side. Alsoif`itis desiredthatthecutters be tipped with respect to ,the\work, which is frequently necessary in cutting curved toothed elements, theny the crank 16 should be operated on one side and 70 theR corresponding crankon the opposite .side ,to eiect ajdesired l.tipping of. the cutters with respect to the'work. During the making of some of these adjustmentsit maybe necessary to loosen the sections-ofthe actuating links ne and lsu and 'is' then re-set4 said links to a required lengthby tightening the adjustment bolts. Afterjall ofthe adjustments have been made, allfoithe set screws andY bolts associated with adjustable members should be tightened to lock the parts in the desired position.

The electric motor 'i8 is then star-ted; and this will cause rotation of the cutter 8T' or 88, and the drive on the other side .of the apparatus is simultaneously started to cause rotation of: the cutter l1 II orl iii. The cam-drums will also start inoperation. Referring to Fig. 1'2 illustrating the rst position in the cycle of-'operation, the cutter table-is in va Withdrawn position, the indexilocking'pin |49 is in engagement with the indexing disk |84, and the .indexing cam liis out'of' en gagementwith its roller.- As the cam drum-'9T rotates frornfthe position-of Fig. 12 to the posi'- tion of Fig. 13 therota'tingcutter will belted from withdrawn position to a position fully Within the Work, as shown in Fig. 16, to cut a tooth of (ie--` sired depth. Asheretofore pointed out, the-wide portion-of thefeed `cam 98 has a dwell part of? uniformthickness when the cutter is fully Within thework to insure completionofthe out: As soon as the cutting'of the tooth' has-been completed', the wide part of the feed cam Sill-will'leave the bedl pin 99: The bed plate pin 991wil1'then beren'- gaged by the angular surface |92 of the'quick return cam IDI, as shown in Fig. 14, to/causeI movement of thecutter table towardthe left,l referring to Fig. 14, and withdrawal of' the cutter from the work. During this operation the block; |59 on the cam drum @l will be in engagementi with the pin |58, as shown in-Fig. 14,- tov cause movement of the index locking pin |49 .outvof engagement with the indexing disk |94, as shown By this time the indexing cam` IIS is again engaging the roller H3; and as the roller rides up the incline of the indexing camtheindexing disk Will be rotatably indexed the distance be'-r tween two `pins thereon, asshown in Fig. 15; A's soon as-the'indexing has beencomplete'dandthe .indexing cam H9 has-left the roller H3; then the indexl locking cam. IBBengagesf thevpin |58; as shownin Fig. 12, to re-insert the indexlocking' pin H19.` in` the next hole of. the indexingfdiski |04; This lock-ingof course is completed before the cutterfagain enterscthe work.v Thecycle :of: operation is then.. repeateduntil all teeth. have been; cut.

The cutter |'l| or` |12. on the otherside ofythey apparatus of course moves into and. out offthe v workin unison With the cutter`-8| or 88.'

The use of the hollow lmill type of. cutter'shown'a in Fig. 16 Will causepcuttingV ofgteethwhch are curved transversely kof the -thicknessof .thezblank |83, and with theuse ofv thepresentapparatus4 this-type of tooth can beaccurately cutl` with a= proper pressure angle, and curvedtoothedgears.-

The: cutting of curved; teeth sl has heretofore-.been considered impossiblefromf' can alsoA be' made.

a practical standpoint.

Although only one iormof the inventionhas been shown and described, it is obvious that. various changes and modiiicationsI mayjbe madeV without departing from the spiritoi the invenn tion, land all of suchchanges are contemplated:

as may come within the scopeofthe claims.

What I claim is: i n 1. In an -apparatusiorcutting toothed elements, arotary cutter, a rotatable shaittsupportingsaid cutter, means. for .feedingsaid cutter in adirection.longitudinally of the .cuttershaftwhile the cutter is rotating, means for rotatably supporting a circular blank in such a position that the rotary cutter isfed into the periphery of the blank while rotating in a direction transversely of the thickness of the blank, meansj for automatically locking the blank in an indexed position and against rotation before itis engaged bythe cutter andwhile the cutter is being fed 2. In an apparatus for cutting toothed elements, a cutter, a movable table supporting said cutter for rotation and for movement with the table in a direction axially of the cutter, a `bed on which said table is movable, said bed having a projection, rotatable timing mechanism carried Yby 'the movable table and having cam meansv engageable with said bed projection to feed the table and cutter outwardly and inwardly with respect to the work in a direction longitudinally of the axis of the cutter, a prime mover supported on the movable table and transmission means connected to said prime mover for rotating said cutter and timing mechanism. f

3. In an apparatus 4for cutting toothed velements, a rotatable work support, a cutter, a movable table supporting saidY cutter for rotation and for movement with the table in a direction axially of the cutter toward the work, a bed on which said tableis movable, said bed having a projection, rotatable timing mechanism carried jtable and cutter outwardly and inwardly with respect to the work support in a direction longitudinally of the axisof the cutter, a prime mover supported on .the movable table, transmission means connected to said prime mover for rotating saidn cutter and timing mechanism, and means driven by said timing mechanism for indexing the work support and for locking said support in indexing position at predetermined times in the cycle of operation.

4.`In an automaticV apparatus for cutting toothed elements, a rotatable support for work to be cut, a Vrotatable cutter, means for feeding said cutterinto and out of the work, an indexing disk having indexing holes and rotatable with said work support,l a slide movable in a direction axially of the indexing disk, an index locking pin connected toV said slide, and means including a bell crank lever for -causing movement of the' slide and locking pin to move the latter into and out of an indexing hole at a predetermined time with reference to the feed movement of the cutter. Y

5. In 'an automatic apparatus for cutting toothed elements, a rotatable support for work to be cut, a rotatable cutter, means for feeding the cutter into and out of the work, an indexing disk rotatable with the work support and hav-Y ing a circle of pins projecting from a face thereof, means including a reciprocally movable indexing dog cooperable with one oi said pins to cause rotatable indexing movementl vat av predetermined time with reference to feed movement of the cutter, said indexing disk also having indexing holes, a slide movable in a direction axially of the indexing disk, an index locking pin connected to said slide, andmeans for causing movement of the slide andlocking pin to move the locking pin into an' indexing hole after indexing and out of an indexing hole at a predetermined timeY with reference to feed movementof the cutter. c. d Y

6. InV an automatic apparatus for cutting toothed elements, a rotatable support for work to be cut, a rotatable mitten-means including a rotatable drum movable axially withrthe cutter for feeding said cutter into and out Vof the work, an indexing disk having indexing holes and rotatable with said work support, a locking pin holder movable in a direction axially of the indexing disk, ank index locking pin carried by said holder, and means engaged by said drum during its axial movementfor causing movement of the locking pin holder to move vthe locking pin into and out of an indexing hole ata predetermined time Vwithrreierence to feed movement of the cutter.

7. In an automatic apparatus for cuttin toothed elements, an axially movable rotatable cutter, a rotatable support for work to `be cut,` a rotatable-timing drum supported for axial movement with the cutter, cutterV feeding and return cam means on said drum, means engaged by said cam means for causing movement of the cutter into and out of the work, an indexing cam rotatable with said drum, means engaged by said in-` dexing cam for rotatably indexing the work support prior to engagement of the cutter with the work, index locking and unlocking means on said drum,rand mechanism engaged by said means for causing locking and unlocking of the work ,support at predetermined times, in the cycle of Ater, means including a rotatable drum having .cam'means thereon for causing said axial movement of the cutter to feed and withdraw the cutter at predetermined times in thercycle of. operation, meansfor rotatably supporting af circular blank in such a position that the rotaryy cutter is fed into the periphery of the blank while rotating in a directiontransversely ofthe thickness of the blank, an indexing member supported for rotation with the blank, a pivoted lever having a swingable end, an indexing cam' rotatable. with the drum and cooperable with said lever at a predetermined time in the cycle Yof` operation'to' cause swinging of the latter, and meansoperable by the swinging end of said lever and engaging withv the indexing member for causing rotatable indexingl movement of the latter. k Y A Y 9. In an automatic apparatusY for cutting toothed elements a rotatable support for work to be cut, a rotatable` cutter, means including a rotatable timing member movable` axially with the cutter for feeding said cutter intovand out of the work, and means including a member engaged by said rotatable vtimingmember during the'axial movement of the latter-for causing locking of the rotatable work support in a rotat ably indexed position at a predetermined time with reference to feed movement of the cutter.

EARNEST F.- 

